Cal Football Raises Over $22 Million Since The Hiring Of Tosh Lupoi
The California Golden Bears fanbase is buying in at the most crucial time for the program.
Itβs good news on the basketball fundraising side, and fantastic news on the football fundraising side for the California Golden Bears.
The Tosh Lupoi impact is real. Cal football fans are getting as invested as they can possibly be, and the donors have been giving Ron Rivera and Rich Lyons the needed financial boost.
The donations have been staggering. Cal is on pace to raise $25 million in this financial year, a near five-fold increase from the previous year.
This momentum would not be possible without the extraordinary engagement and support of the Cal community through, among other things, the recent Fight For California campaign - a weeklong $1.5 million matching challenge. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous Cal football alum and the San Francisco Grid Club, every dollar was matched, propelling the challenge to an incredible $2.25 million raised in just one week. This response underscores the collective belief in Cal football's future and the power of unified support.
This surge of generosity and dedication extends well beyond the challenge. Cal football also recently received a $11 million anonymous cash gift, a $6.5 million commitment, two $1 million gifts, and several commitments of $500k+ in the past few months, reinforcing the foundation being built. Together, these gifts are an extraordinary statement of belief in Cal football's vision.
Normally, these numbers would be cause for jubilationβthe program has never seen this broadband investment in the modern era, needing band-aids from the university and TV contracts to stem over deficits and debt payments. But unfortunately, in the ACC era, with minimal media rights contracts and NIL payments needed to pay premium talent, this is basically the amount the Bears need to just be competitive long-term. More donors, small and large, will be required for the long haul, until the dust clears in the college football arms race.
Ron Riveraβs goal re: Cal football fundraising is $100 million over the next three years, meaning Cal is about two-thirds of the way to their ultimate goal. The best way to support Cal football this offseason is to provide a gift to the Cal Football Strategic Excellence Fund, which is designed to give 100% of donations to Tosh Lupoi and the Cal football program.